"It was all to do with crime stats initially ... I was a crime analyst for WA police, and we noticed that when we were providing food at the local PCYC, property crime was reduced pretty remarkably," he says.

"The stats we've got more recently continue to back that up, but it's not just about reducing crime, it's about giving these a chance and helping make change in that next generation.

"It makes me feel pretty upset that we live in such a wealthy country, and yet there's this group of children though no fault of their own, they're suffering, they're not growing physically and educationally as well as they should be."

Dr Roslyn Giglia, who's a nutritionist with Foodbank WA, said there was plenty of evidence that a lack of food — or a lack of nutritious food — has a terrible impact on a child's development.

"Whenever a child is not getting enough food, or missing a meal, then you're putting their development and ability to learn at risk, so you can't underestimate how important it is that kids are getting three meals a day at a minimum, with snacks in between,

"Hunger isn't about poor parenting, and it's not about neglect — it's about a lack of money to try to make ends meet. "

Poor parenting?

The question of how much child hunger is the result of parental neglect is a sensitive one.

Feed the Little Children program coordinator Michael Khan said most of the carers they deliver to were unemployed, and doing their best to make ends meet.

"There are some people who waste their money, but most of these are families who are trying their best in life, and I think it's more of a national thing," Mr Khan said.

"Newstart allowance hasn't been raised for years, and living costs seem to go up but the unemployment benefits aren't going up with it, and that's hard on families, especially with how expensive things are up here in Broome, things like fuel and electricity and mechanics."

Program founder Clint Durham shuts down the suggestion that feeding the kids is enabling parents to avoid their responsibilities.

"We are not judgemental. In some of the families there are people who drink who might drink a lot, but that's not the fault of the children that we support, and that's what this is about — trying to make some change for the next generation."

Dangerous dogs

The weekend food drop-offs, in the backroads of Broome, can be hazardous.

Volunteers carry a clipboard listing the homes with potentially dangerous dogs, that will charge at the bus in a torrent of barking.

It's clear that the household hunger isn't happening in a vacuum — it's a side-effect of the myriad social issues swirling around poverty-stricken families, including overcrowded housing, substance abuse and family conflicts.

But there are big smiles and friendly waves as the Feed the Little Children bus pulls into driveways.

The evenings are warm in Broome, and often dinner is eaten in a cheerful circle of family sitting in the front yard under trees.

"The children are lovely and the families are always really grateful," Mr Khan said.

"It's a nice way to get to know people, and sometimes we'll talk about different issues they're having and suggest services around town that they can access to get help."

Mr Khan is a chef by trade, but as an Aboriginal man with personal experience of family suicide, decided to join the food relief program to try make a difference in the lives of local kids.

It's clear he cares deeply about the families, and about trying to provide stability in the sometimes volatile lives of local children.

Driving through the streets of the 'Bronx' area of Old Broome, he points to a house with an overgrown garden.

"The house we just went to there, the mother committed suicide just before Christmas," he said.

"Sometimes the family aren't at home — I don't think they like to be there anymore — but we still go around just in case they need food."